Variable contour reflector with cooling system

ABSTRACT

A circular reflector or mirror is mounted in a housing for rotation about a hollow shaft fixed to its center. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the reflector at various speeds. The reflector is provided with channels therein from its center to its outer periphery through which a coolant can flow from said hollow shaft to cool the reflector. A manifold is located around the periphery of the reflector to receive any coolant which passes therefrom. The coolant passes from the manifold and is recirculated through a cooler by a pumping means and directed back into the hollow shaft. Weights are located on the outer periphery of the reflector, offset from the center plane of the reflector, to provide a force when the reflector is rotated to vary its contour. The outer periphery of the reflector is connected to the manifold by sealing means to minimize loss of coolant at this point. The channels of the reflector can provide some pumping action if necessary.

United States Patent Shannon Feb. 22, 1972 [54] VARIABLE CONTOURREFLECTOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICA'ITONS WITH COOLING SYSTEM 548,2954/1932 Germany ..240/47 [72] lnventor: Thomas E. Shannon, Knoxville,Tenn. 1,339,819 9/1963 France [73] Assignee: United AircraftCorporation, East Hart- Primary Examiner-David Schonberg ford, Conn.Assistant Examiner-John W. Leonard [22] Filed: Mar. 6 1970 Attorney-JackN. McCarthy [2|] Appl. No.: 17,103 [57] ABSTRACT A circular reflector ormirror is mounted in a housing for rota- 52 us. Cl ..3so/295 240/47343/915 a Shaft fixed A drive 3 352/202 mechanism is provided to drivethe reflector at various speeds. [51] lm Cl G02, 29/00 The reflector isprovided with channels therein from its center [58] Fi d 293 310 62 toits outer periphery through which a coolant can flow from c o are I saidhollow shaft to cool the reflector. A manifold is located 350/63 343/915240/47 9 352/202 around the periphery of the reflector to receive anycoolant which passes therefrom. The coolant passes from the manifold andis recirculated through a cooler by a pumping means and [56] ReferencesCited directed back into the hollow shaft. Weights are located on UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the outer periphery of the reflector, offset from thecenter plane of the reflector, to provide a force when the reflector is1,482,313 1] 1924 Miethe ..350/3 10 X rotated to vary its contour. Theouter periphery of the reflec- 3,010,l53 l l/ 1961' Bittner tor isconnected to the manifold by sealing means to minimize 3,513,474 5/1970Gest et al ..343/9l5 X l f oolant at this point. The channels of thereflector can provide some pumping action if necessary.

1 1 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures /Z ,{Z 0 Ce a,

/ O /JPEfi za/vzeaz A (75 g 6! I W -Z/ J; I I r i? PATENTEDFEB22 I972 ll I I V 9% 7 ag 5 a Z K 4 i C W K M y VARIABLE CONTOUR REFLECTOR WITHCOOLING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to abeam reflecting device having means for varying the contour of thereflecting surface during operation. U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,189 shows oneexample of a reflector having an adjustable focal length. U.S.application Ser. No. 733,221, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,776, shows otherexamples of reflectors having variable reflecting surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The reflector can also be cooled by a heatexchanger having grooves under the reflecting surface. With the coolinggrooves extending radially outwardly from the center of the mirror thepassages can be arranged as a centrifugal pump impeller to pump coolantflow. An auxiliary pump can also be provided in this system for agreater range of coolant flow or reflector shape and r.p.m.requirements.

The weights are spaced sufficiently close and evenly spaced to providesmooth contouring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view partially insection of the invention. FIG. 2 is a view of the reflecting surface ofthe device with a portion thereof broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 the beamreflecting device 1 is shown comprised offour main parts; l) thereflector or mirror 3, (2) the drive means 5, (3) the cooling system 7,and (4) the mounting means 9.

The reflector or mirror 3 comprises a thin circular mirror member 11, onone side, having, a reflecting surface 12, which has its opposite sidefixed to a grooved side of a circular supporting member 13. Supportingmember 13 has its rearward surface flat while its forward surface isgrooved by ribs 15 forming channels 17, as shown in FIG. 2. Theassembled mirror is adapted to be cooled by a coolant flowing throughsaid channels. A plurality of balance weights 18 are located around theouter periphery of the rearward flat surface of the supporting member 13for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A hollow shaft 19 extends rearwardly from the rearward flat surface ofthe supporting member 13 and a flange 21 thereon is fixed to said memberby bolts or any other means desired. This shaft extends coaxially fromthe circular supporting member. Hollow shaft 19 is rotatably mounted inhousing 23 of the mounting means 9. A ball bearing assembly 25 has itsinner race fixed to the forward end of said hollow shaft and has itsouter race fixed to the housing. This ball bearing assemblyprevents'axial movement of the shaft with respect to the housing. Aroller bearing assembly 27 has its inner race fixed to the rearward endof the hollow shaft 19 and has its outer race fixed to the housing. Theroller bearing permits axial movement to provide for thermal movement ofthe shaft with respect to the housing.

The middle of the housing 23 is enlarged to provide for a powertransmission to be located therein. A bevel gear 30 is fixed to thehollow shaft 19 and it meshes with a bevel gear 32 which is fixedlymounted to a drive shaft 34. A driving device 36 including a case 38having a motor inside with a shaft 34 extending therefrom is fixed tosaid housing. Mounting flanges 40 on the case 38 are fixed to brackets42 on the housing 23. The drive shaft 34, extends through a hole in thehousing. A

speed control 44 controls the speed of the motor in the casing 38.

. Radial arms 50 extend from the forward part of housing 23 and areconnected to an annular supporting member 52 which has a purpose to behereinafter described. Legs 54 extend from said annular member and fixthis end of the device. Legs 56 extend from the rearward part of thehousing 23 and fix that end.

It can be seen that as the motor is energized by the speed control itwill rotate bevel gear 32 which will in turn rotate gear 30 and thehollow shaft 19. Rotation of shaft 19 rotates the mirror 3. In view ofthe location of the balance weights 18, as the speed of the reflector ormirror increases the supporting member 13 and mirror member 11 willbegin to move forwardly at the outer edge forming a concave reflectingsurface. It is to be remembered that these movements need not be verylarge. U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,578 refers to reflectors made of flexiblematerial.

An annular collector 60 is mounted on the annular member 52 and has anannular inlet 62 positioned to receive any coolant flow which may passthrough the channels 17 from the hollow shaft. Annular seal means 66 and68 prevents leakage at the periphery of the mirror 3. The seal means 66and 68 each are shown comprising a labyrinth type and are located on thefront and rear side of the mirror 3. Other types of seal means desiredcan be used.

Annular collector 60 has an outlet 70 which directs its flow into aconduit 72 which has its other end connected to the inlet ofa pump 74.The outlet of pump 74 is connected to the free end of hollow shaft 19 byconduit 76. The hollow shaft 19 is rotatably mounted in the conduit 76and a seal means is located between said members. A cooler 78 ispositioned in the line 72. While the ribs 15 on the supporting member 13are formed to provide a pumping action for the coolant, a pump 74 isprovided for a greater range in operating conditions.

I claim:

I. A beam-reflecting device having in combination, a circular mirror,said mirror having a shaft extending from one side thereof and beingmounted for rotation about its center on said shaft, said mirror havingweight means positioned evenly around its periphery on one side thereof,and means for rotating said mirror whereby said weight means act to varythe contour of the mirror.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein cooling means areprovided for said mirror.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatingsaid mirror includes a motor, said motor being drivingly connected tosaid shaft.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cooling meansincludes passages in said mirror for flowing a coolant therethrough.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said shaft has apassageway therein, said passageway being connected to said passages,means for delivering a coolant through said passageway to said passages.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said passages extendradially and act to move the coolant from the center of the mirror toits periphery.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said passages intersectthe periphery of the mirror and form holes therearound.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein a collector isconnected to the holes around the periphery of the mirror to collect thefluid flowing therefrom.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein conduit means connectsaid collector to said passages in said mirror.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said shaft has apassageway therethrough, said passageway forming part of the conduitmeans.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said conduit meansincludes a cooler for controlling the temperature of the coolant.

1. A beam-reflecting device having in combination, a circular mirror,said mirror having a shaft extending from one side thereof and beingmounted for rotation about its center on said shaft, said mirror havingweight means positioned evenly around its periphery on one side thereof,and means for rotating said mirror whereby said weight means act to varythe contour of the mirror.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1wherein cooling means are provided for said mirror.
 3. A combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said mirrorincludes a motor, said motor being drivingly connEcted to said shaft. 4.A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cooling meansincludes passages in said mirror for flowing a coolant therethrough. 5.A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said shaft has apassageway therein, said passageway being connected to said passages,means for delivering a coolant through said passageway to said passages.6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said passages extendradially and act to move the coolant from the center of the mirror toits periphery.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidpassages intersect the periphery of the mirror and form holestherearound.
 8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein acollector is connected to the holes around the periphery of the mirrorto collect the fluid flowing therefrom.
 9. A combination as set forth inclaim 8 wherein conduit means connect said collector to said passages insaid mirror.
 10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidshaft has a passageway therethrough, said passageway forming part of theconduit means.
 11. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidconduit means includes a cooler for controlling the temperature of thecoolant.